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M. MQANENY & P. STANSBURY.

OPERA UHAIR.

(No Model.

No. 501,896. Patented July 1 8, 1893 A a q a a l ke a o '93 b, o 0

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. v 2 Sheets-Shasta M. McANENY & P. STANSBURY,

OPERA CHAIR No. 501,896. Patented July 18, 1893.

"ll" I I; V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

-MIOHAEL MOANENY AND FREMONT STANSBURY, OF DENVER, COLORADO,

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN SWANK, OF SAME PLACE.

CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,896, dated July 18, 1893.

Application filed June 20, 1892.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, MICHAEL MCANENY and FREMONT STANSBURY, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado,have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Opera-Chairs; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in chairs specially designed for use in opera houses and theaters, but which maybe advantageously employed in churches, colisseums and other edifices which are frequently occupied by any considerable number of people.

The object of the invention is to provide a chair which when not occupied shall be capable of rotation upon its supporting post or standard whereby auxiliary passage-ways parallel with the regular aisles may be provided at any place through the seat portion of the house, whereby in case of an emergency, as the breaking out of a fire, other avenues of escapes may be had besides the ordinary aisles.

The invention consists of a chair having a seat hinged to the back and adapted to fold up thereagainst, the back being hinged to a vertical post or standard and adapted to rotate thereon when the seat is folded but locked from rotation when the seat is in position for use.

Our improved chair consists further of the features, arrangements and combinations hereinafter described and claimed and will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation showing two chairs mounted on a suitable post or standard and in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear view, parts being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line y-y, Fig. 1, looking downward. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken through the post and seat backs, the parts below being shownin plan view. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the seat and back Serial No. 437,428. (No model.)

together with their connecting arms, the seat being shown partly raised. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken through the post above the sleeved flange, the parts below being shown in plan. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the device showing two chairs, one being folded and the other in position for use.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements of the mechanism in the several views, let the numeral 5 designate the vertical post or standard the lower extremity of which is inserted in asocket plate or foot 6. The post is provided with a feather or spline f engaging a counter-part groove formed in the foot plate whereby the standard is secured against rotation in its socket.

Upon the standard 5 at any suitable point above the foot plate is located the sleeve 7 provided with the flange 8 having notches or recesses 9. Sleeve 7 is vertically adjustable on the standard by means of a set screw 10.

The chair proper consists of the back 12 having hangers 13 which project forward and between which is hinged the seat 14:, the rear extremity of which engages the lower edge of the back when the seat is in position for use.

As shown in the drawings the rear surface of the back is provided with metal plates or straps 15 which terminate at one extremity in eyes 16 adapted to engage post or standard 5. These eyes 16 are adapted to rotate horizontally and slide vertically on the post. The lower eye of one strap engages the top of sleeve 7 the position of which determines the height of the seat above the floor. The chairs being arranged in pairs upon the posts, the upper and lower eyes of each pair are oppositely disposed with reference to each other whereby both must be removed or placed in position simultaneously. When the chair seats are in position for use cleats 17 on their inner lower corners enter notches or recesses 9 formed in flange 8 of the sleeve. To accomplish this object the under surface of each chair seat is provided with a cleat 17 adapted to engage a notch 9 of the flange on one side and prevent the rotation of the chair upon its vertical post during use. When the seat is folded, however, the chairs can be rotated freely on this post since the seat is pivoted to hanger l3 beyond the periphery of the flange ICO 8. The back and seat of the chair are connected by suitable pivoted arms 19 and 20.

Having" thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. The combination of a vertical post or standard carrying a flanged sleeve vertically adjustable thereon, two chairs having their backs rotatably attached to the post by means of straps which are also vertically movable thereon and supported by the sleeve, the seats of the chairs being hinged to the backs, and the flange of the sleeve being notched to engage the adjacent seat corners whereby the chairs are locked from rotation when in position for use, substantially as described.

2. In a chair the combination of a verti- 

